Conceived as an instructional album for aspiring musicians, his father Jose Mangaul Sr. was on the bongos, Patato Valdéz on the conga, Bobby Rodríguez on bass with Manny Oquendo on the timbales.
In the early 1980s he signed with Velvet Records, and increased popularity in Latin America, Europe and Asian markets.
Mangual's talent as a percussionist, singer, composer, and musical director led him to record with artists including Ray Barretto,[9] Rubén Blades, Herb Alpert, Dizzy Gillespie, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Juan Luis Guerra, Ramon Orlando, Mario Bauza, The Fania All-Stars, Junior Gonzalez, Ismael Miranda, Louie Ramirez Mongo Santamaria and many others.
In 1998 he won the ACE Award for as best new Latin release for the LP Son Boricua along with Jimmy Sabater who sang lead vocal on the album.
In 2007 he recorded vocals and coro for the soundtrack for the movie El Cantante starring Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez.